Around February 2025, I purchased this item from an acquaintance who said they had hardly used it. They told me they bought it from a fishing tackle shop, and it was from the initial production run. When I bought it, I had it overhauled and replaced the bail with the updated version. I've only used it for area trout fishing, and I always used a rod stand, so it's in excellent condition with no noticeable scratches. The reeling is smooth, with no grinding or scratching sensations. As an aside, I think it's a good one. It has the best reeling feel of any reel I own.